Okay So--

I was talking to a friend last night about my recent interest in religion, science, and politics. I was sort of dumbfounded at how this interest had seemed to take hold over night. He had the theory, (as the same thing happened to him last year), that once we were out of school, it was fun and work. Now that we've learned that balance, our minds are seeking more enlightenment.

Hence, this sudden interest. Anyway, if you're not into this, I understand. (Skip down to the best friends post I just refound and finally posted!) I hope this isn't overkill but I have one more thing to post tonight and then I'm done.



This is from HBO's Documentary entitled, "Friends of God: A Road Trip With Alexandra Pelosi"

The estimated 50 to 80 million evangelical Christians living in America today have become a formidable force in our culture and democracy. But the evangelical movement is a big tent. To try and get a better understanding of the range and diversity of this community, intrepid filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi hit the road to meet some evangelicals and learn about what their influence may mean for the future of the country.

I must quote "Friends" on this one:

PHOEBE: That's fine. Go ahead and scoff. You know, there're a lot of things that I don't believe in, but that doesn't mean they're not true.

JOEY: Such as?

PHOEBE: Like crop circles, or the Bermuda triangle, or evolution?

ROSS: Whoa, whoa, whoa. What, you don't, uh, you don't believe in evolution?

PHOEBE: Nah. Not really.

ROSS: You don't believe in evolution?

PHOEBE: I don't know, it's just, you know...monkeys, Darwin, you know, it's a, it's a nice story, I just think it's a little too easy.

ROSS: Too easy? Too...The process of every living thing on this planet evolving over millions of years from single-celled organisms, too easy?

PHOEBE: Yeah, I just don't buy it.

ROSS: Uh, excuse me. Evolution is not for you to buy, Phoebe. Evolution is scientific fact, like, like, like the air we breathe, like gravity.

PHOEBE: Ok, don't get me started on gravity.

ROSS: You uh, you don't believe in gravity?

PHOEBE: Well, it's not so much that you know, like I don't believe in it, you know, it's just...I don't know, lately I get the feeling that I'm not so much being pulled down as I am being pushed.

Oy With The Deep Already!

So oddly enough, a couple of friends of mine got into a similar debate as the one linked below via their Myspace blog. I listened in and was completely in awe. This quote was born of that and gives me chills! Just wanted to share:


"I was attempting to align the idea that religion and science are actually attempting the same ends; they both strive to explain the unexplainable. They both strive to understand that grain of sand at the end of NEVERENDING STORY and the true irony is that neither one will ever fully be able to do so.

So, if that is a choice between limiting my mind to understand God or limitlessly expanding my mind to find God... Then my faith is in the limitless."


I'm loving these conversations about the marriage of religion and science. The debates will only grow more plentiful as we learn more and more about our world.

The idea that science is a religion in and of itself, is a concept that had it been a snake, I would have been bitten. Meaning, any sort of dogmatic statements of the beginnings of life on this world, (that really, we know so little about), is taking a giant leap of faith. Be it following a God or following a text book.

Also this from Einstein who was interested in the joining of these two:

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."

"The eternal mystery of the world is its comprehensibility."

"Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind."

"As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain, as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality."

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."

"We should take care not to make the intellect our god; it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality.":

Thanks Jason and Nate for the great conversation.

Debate

I want to share how I have spent the last two hours of my evening with you. I have been watching a debate that has equally befuddled, amused, astounded, and justified my own beliefs and concerns. I internally debated with myself whether or not to post this here, for reasons that may or may not be completely obvious to you. The debate linked below is titled "Religion, Politics, and the End of the World".

I urge you to listen to the two opposing views and the thought-provoking views that lie within, if you feel you have the stomach for it. It's equally entertaining and informative and it's one of those things that I just haven't been able to tear myself away from for the past couple of hours, (with interruptions, of course).

For those of who I shall not name, but most likely, you know who you are, I assure you that if you can stomach the first segment, you will find your saving grace in his debater. It's unlikely you will get nothing from this, even if it is a better understanding of the War in Iraq and the ideas that lie within. One of the most intriguing and mind numbing moments of this debate is when Hedges discusses his experience in Iraq and how he believes we have handled things poorly. His own experience of the reactions from the Muslim world on the events of 9/11, and how, in essence, we manged to turn a formable ally into one of our greatest enemies.

I urge you to listen in if you so wish, and to not be scared off by the somewhat harsh introduction to the first of two debaters (the one he gives himself, mind you, after the terribly long 6 minute intro). The larger argument is one that is primarily introduced in part 2.

But for mere reasons of fundamental indiscretions that could serve to, in essence, nullify this debate for you, I warn you it is not for the faint of heart. Especially the first segment. Just warning you - the first segment is very athetistic in nature and I don't want to catch you off guard. It's equally important to not let the obvious difference of fundamental beliefs cheapen the core of the intention of this conversation. It's wonderful that discussions like this are even taking place today, and whether we'd like to admit it or not, both of the guys make astounding arguments about current events, most notably, the war in Iraq.

The argument of the debate itself is basically religion's role in today's conflicts. In one corner, (and I am very hesitant to put any words in any mouths, but this is from what I gathered), an atheist who believes religion is tearing our world apart, in corner number two, a New York Times reporter who has spent years and years studying religion, especially in the Middle East, and believes that the "Terror" problems of today comes from a class of people who are lost and in despair and are gathered up by terror organizations who veil their intentions behind a wall of promises and acceptance. Sparks will fly, (and do).


Religion, Politics, and The End of the World